“[The Browns] don’t have a long-term quarterback of the future (unless Brian Hoyer, 28, is far better than he’s shown in his four-team, four-start NFL career), and they don’t have anyone to coach one. That’s the biggest problem with the Browns now. There’s no consensus as to who will be the offensive coordinator, and certainly no consensus as to whom the team will draft in May for the new coordinator to coach. And what if the Browns, who love Johnny Manziel, are trumped in their effort to draft Manziel by another team—assuming Johnny Football is the top quarterback on the board, which is too early to say now.”

These questions are being raised due to the team’s futility and complete inability to acquire a semblance of a starting-caliber NFL quarterback.

The franchise chewed up and spit out 20 different quarterbacks over the last 15 seasons. Being the Browns’ head coach is actually a more stable job — even after the team dismissed Rob Chudzinski after one season — than playing quarterback for the Browns.

The Browns will likely target a quarterback high in the draft to address its primary issue. If Manziel is the object of the Browns’ affection, the team may have some obstacles to overcome to acquire him.

Cleveland owns the fourth overall selection in May’s NFL draft, and it isn’t the only franchise residing in the Top 5 in dire need of a quarterback upgrade.

“You are going to get 110% out of this guy every day of his life, every play of his life,” Brandt said. ” If you don’t have a quarterback, and you want one, I believe this guy has a great chance to be good for a long time. … This guy’s a better version of Fran Tarkenton.”

The Jacksonville Jaguars are next in-line at No. 3 overall with a quarterback need.

There is also the possibility a team leapfrogs both the Jaguars and the Browns. The St. Louis Rams select second overall thanks to the RG3 deal. A team such as the Oakland Raiders or the Minnesota Vikings could make a bold move to acquire Manziel by trading up to the No. 2 overall selection.

Cleveland shouldn’t be ruled out as the team willing to take that same chance. The Browns currently own 10 draft selections including two first round picks, which is plenty to move up in the Top 5.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III proclaimed this off-season as the most important off-season in the franchise’s recent history. The scouting process is far from complete, but it’s not unfathomable for a scouting staff or a front office to fall in love with a player very early in the process.

#Browns CEO Joe Banner laughed & said team hasn't made decision that it'll draft Johnny Manziel, but "I'm not taking him off the board."

Yet, the team still doesn’t know exactly what type of offense it will run. That will be determined once Pettine hires an offensive coordinator. Manziel may not be the ideal fit in the offense. He wouldn’t have been under previous offensive coordinator Norv Turner.

If the Browns select Manziel and the team’s scheme isn’t cohesive to the quarterback’s particular skill-set, the Browns will be back where they started.

It’s a vicious cycle the Browns can’t seem to get out of despite multiple changes at every level of the organization.

Pettine is being asked to overcome years of a losing culture in the locker room. He’ll have to do so with no franchise quarterback currently on a roster. He hasn’t even hired his offensive coordinator. All the while, those around the league will continue to question if he’ll even get the time to turn the program around.

It’s a lot for any coach. It’s even more for a first-time head coach that didn’t appear to be the team’s top choice. Pettine simply has to persevere and hope there is a little bit of luck on his side.